Raised, oblong, apple-shaped cream pitcher with short concave neck, single-reeded curved rim with wide pouring lip, and knuckle-ended, C-curve handle on an applied oval foot ring. Underside of flat bottom is struck "Gebelein" in raised roman letters in a textured, curvilinear surround, "STERLING" in incuse sans serif letters, and "Boston" in incuse italic roman letters. Part of a three-piece service, 1992.0601.001-.003.
Raised, oblong, apple-shaped, open sugar bowl with short concave neck, a wide, everted, single-reeded rim, and two, knuckle-ended, C-curve handles on an applied oval foot ring. Underside of flat bottom is struck "Gebelein" in raised roman letters in a textured, curvilinear surround, "STERLING" in incuse sans serif letters, and "Boston" in incuse italic roman letters. Part of a three-piece service, 1992.0601.001-.003.
Thistle-shaped goblet on a flared-end stem with ball knop and flat circular foot having a central hole in its underside that fits over a post on stand. Flat-chased symmetrical floral decoration covers front of upper body and wide die-rolled band of seven flower motifs encircles lower body. Underside of flat bottom struck incuse "PAIRPOINT MF'G CO" above "P" in diamond logo and "QUADRUPLE / PLATE" in san serif letters, and "1002" in serif letters. From tilting ice pitcher set, 1979.0428.01-.04.
Maker is Pairpoint Corporation of New Bedford, MA; 1880-1958.
Oval half-length portrait of an older girl with blue eyes and brown hair seated against a landscape, her body turned to the viewer's right as she looks forward. Her long curls hang over the puffed blouse and sleeves of her high-necked white dress, which is accented by a light blue sash and gold necklace with aqua stones; a bracelet and ring are on her right hand. Light is from front left. Signed at lower right. Housing includes a convex lens, bead-patterned flat bezel, and flat case with hinged ring hanger attached at top of reverse; case reverse is also engraved "Elizabeth Griggs / Feb 1907" and struck "TIFFANY & C\o" at bottom. Hangs in a red velvet-covered display frame fitted to hold eight miniatures, 1989.0343.16-.23.
Steam sterilizer consisting of an outer, low-domed, cylindrical cover or hood with an arched strap handle that fits over an inner cylindrical container on a perforated cylindrical shaft mounted inside a basin attached to a shallow copper pan; removable, strap-handled caddy or lifter with circular cutouts for seven, eight-ounce, colorless glass bottles (five remain, one has cotton stopper). Both cover and inner cylinder are embossed "THE ARNOLD (arched) / STEAM / STERILIZER / PAT. JUL. 8. 79 MAY 9. 82. / WILMOT CASTLE & CO. / ROCHESTER.N.Y.", all in sans serif letters. Two-part molded bottles marked "WILMOT CASTLE (arched) / & CO / ROCHESTER / N.Y. (curved)".
Wilmot Castle (1855-1941) founded Wilmot Castle & Co. in Rochester, NY, in 1883; it was incorporated in 1903 as Wilmot Castle Co. The firm manufactured sterilizers and bacteriological apparatus for laboratory, medical, dental and hospital use as well as for the home.
This device, however, was patented by William E. Arnold, also of Rochester, NY, as a grain cooker or steamer (U.S. Patent No. 257,810 dated May 9, 1882, an improvement on his earlier patent, No. 217,314, received on July 8, 1879). In keeping with Arnold's original intent, Wilmot Castle & Co. also produced "The Arnold Automatic Steam Cooker", which looked and functioned the same as their sterilizer (see DL*251349.0193).
Onion-form teakettle with crooked gooseneck spout and cast-in, splayed arched ears for the faceted strap bail handle; three D-section feet. Low-domed, molded cover with cast-in wire loop handle. Both pieces are hollow cast: cover has gate mark on top; kettle has horizontal and vertical seams on body and spout with single gate mark on bottom exterior. Cast-in marks below back ear "W:S 3." in a dotted oval and "N.&W.S.EDDY" in a zig-zag bordered oval, both in raised serif letters.
Maker is Nathaniel and William S. Eddy, who operated the Eddy Furnace, located in what is now Middleboro, MA, circa 1830-1840. Their father, Joshua, founded the furnace sometime around the Revolution, which might explain why stylistically this teapot appears earlier in date, circa 1780-1820.
Cylindrical child's cup or mug symmetrically engraved with curved leafy sprigs forming a wreath at front containing the stamped letters "J.H.C."; a perched bird and flowers extend around sides. Bracket handle with beaded vertical bar, square in section, topped by a closed-leaf finial and C scroll terminals attached to shaped plates; applied cabled rim and foot ring; and flat bottom. Bottom underside struck with four marks, a five-petaled flower; the Old English or gothic letters "W", "W", and "H", in separate shaped surrounds; the raised serif letter "S" in a rounded-corner surround; and the raised serif letters "EP" crowned in a shield.
Maker is W. W. Harrison (William Wheatcroft) of Sheffield, England; in business, 1871-1905. Not known when he used these marks.
Spun circular child's bowl with six Nouveau-style overlays alternating between front and back views of a girl in bonnet seated within a tulip-shaped arrangement of leaves atop a knotty trunk and holding the S-curved stem of a blooming flower. Engraved inscription on side for "Elsie. / April 9\th (double underlined) / 1904. / From / Grandma M\c/Vitty." No foot ring. Underside of flat bottom is struck incuse "Athenic" in gothic or Old English letters above Gorham trademark (lion passant facing right in clipped-corner square, anchor in shield, and gothic or Old English "G" in clipped-corner square), "STERLING", "A2680", and "BAILEY, BANKS & BIDDLE CO". Underside scuffed along edge. Part of child's bowl and plate set, 1988.0762.02A-B.
Maker is Gorham Manufacturing Co. of Providence, RI, 1831-present. Retailed by Bailey, Banks & Biddle of Philadelphia, PA, 1832-present (originally Bailey & Kitchen, 1832-1841; Bailey & Co., 1851-1878; Bailey, Banks & Biddle, 1878-present).
Child's circular plate with eight Nouveau-style overlays on the everted rim alternating between front and back views of a girl in bonnet seated within a tulip-shaped arrangement of leaves atop a knotty trunk and holding the S-curved stem of a blooming flower. Engraved inscription across the shallow, flat well for "Elsie. / April 9\th (double underlined) / 1904. / From / Grandma M\c/Vitty." No foot ring. Well underside is struck incuse at top "Athenic" in gothic or Old English letters above Gorham trademark (lion passant facing right in clipped-corner square, anchor in shield, and gothic or Old English "G" in clipped-corner square), "STERLING" and "A2681"; and at bottom with an arched stamp for "THE BAILEY, BANKS & BIDDLE (arched) / COMPANY (straight)" enclosing "925 / 1000". Part of child's bowl and plate set, 1988.0762.02A-B.
Maker is Gorham Manufacturing Co. of Providence, RI, 1831-present. Retailed by Bailey, Banks & Biddle of Philadelphia, PA, 1832-present (originally Bailey & Kitchen, 1832-1841; Bailey & Co., 1851-1878; Bailey, Banks & Biddle, 1878-present).
Lidded, spiral-fluted pitcher on a flared circular foot; cylindrical neck and globular body twist in opposite directions. Flat, hinged lid is topped by a cast spiral-fluted knop. Covered, squared-edge, inset spout. Hollow, pointed handle, oval in section, is attached to thin wood insulators and flared sockets. Underside of rounded bottom is struck "F. B\ROS" in raised serif letters in a rounded rectangle next to an illegible mark, "EP / BM" in raised serif letters in a shaped shield, and "1215" over "4".
Maker is Fenton Brothers of Sheffield, England, 1859-1896; became Fenton Bros. Ltd., 1896-1938.
Tapered cylindrical, insulated tilting ice pitcher with a knob-shaped, hinged lid topped by a cast rounded arch finial and two cylindrical pins at sides that fit into supports mounted on the insides of the accompanying stand; double-walled construction. Flat-chased symmetrical floral decoration on front and wide die-rolled bands of five repeating flower motifs at top and bottom. Inset, curved, fixed-cover spout and handle with fan thumbrest have matching floral designs and anthemions at their bases. Single hole in body at spout. Bottom underside has a large central threaded opening and is struck incuse "PAIRPOINT MF'G CO" above "P" in diamond logo and "QUADRUPLE / PLATE" in sans serif letters, and "1802 1/2" in serif letters. Back inside edge of lid stamped "18"; back inside of body scratched "XII" just below rim. From tilting set, 1979.0428.01-.04.
Maker is Pairpoint Corporation of New Bedford, MA; 1880-1958.
Stand for a tilting ice pitcher and goblet consisting of a large, circular, straight tapered base with tall, U-shaped, double-wire handle mounted with supports to hold the pitcher and a central opening for the removable tray; smaller solid circular base at front has a central post to secure the goblet in place. Wide die-rolled bands of five repeating flower motifs encircle both bases. Handle wires meet at top of bow and have cast, double-diamond decorations attached inside their lower half and scrolled supports at bottom. Underside of small base struck incuse with concentric circular mark of "• PAIRPOINT MFG CO • / NEW BEDFORD, MASS" bordering "• QUADRUPLE • / PLATE" with "P" in diamond logo at center, all in san serif letters, and "1802 1/2" in serif letters below. From tilting set, 1979.0428.01-.04.
Maker is Pairpoint Corporation of New Bedford, MA; 1880-1958.
Large-format, oval, three-quarter length portrait of a woman with blue eyes and gray hair standing three-quarters to the left in a landscape with low wall and large tree, as she turns her head and looks right. Yellow, low-necked, sloped-waist gown with white lace blouson front is embellished with a peach-colored rose; a gauzy white shawl or wrap is draped around her waist and arms. No jewelry. Light is from front left. Signed at right. Housing includes a shallow convex lens, chased bezel, and flat case with ball post-and-ring hanger; case reverse is engraved "L. Elizabeth P. Griggs / 1904." and struck "THEODORE B STARR (arched) / STERLING" at bottom. Hangs in a red velvet-covered display frame fitted to hold eight miniatures, 1989.0343.16-.23.
Artist is Isabelle Victoria Hayward (1868-1967) of New York, NY, and Paterson (Manchester), Passaic, NJ.
Case retailed by Theodore B. Starr of New York, NY; business was founded by Starr (1837-1907) in 1877 as successor firm of Marcus & Starr, was then incorporated by his sons in 1907 and purchased by Reed & Barton in 1918, who used the Starr name until circa 1924.
Small, Art Nouveau, repoussé chased pentagonal dish with slightly convex, cinquefoil well; no footring. Flared sides and everted rim with downturned edge are segmented by five sinuous ribbons overrun by a wreath of wild roses open at one corner, leaving an empty reserve. No monogram. Underside of well struck incuse with circular mark for "THE VAN BERGH S.P.CO. (arched) / ROCHESTER, NY (curved)" enclosing "QUADRUPLE / PLATE", and "5353" below. From a 7-piece set (one large and six small dishes) for serving bonbons ("sweets") or nuts, 1989.0184.11-.17.
Six-egg cooker shaped as a large inverted egg held between three S-scroll supports ending in split-scroll feet to which a circular platform with central depression containing a disc-shaped, single-burner spirit lamp is attached. Cast knop of a spreadwing chicken or hen standing over eggs in a nest is secured with wingnut atop the friction-fit cover. Inside is a removable, six-ring caddy or lifter formed around three scrolled wire supports with ring handle. Screw-top burner; cotton wick stuffed inside. Cover stamped incuse "1" inside. No other marks.
This large iron spring trap may have been fashioned by an unidentified blacksmith in the 19th century. Since the U.S. Patent Office was formally established in 1838, it has granted more than forty-four hundred mousetrap patents, more than any other invention. John Mast heeded Ralph Waldo Emerson’s advice to, “Build a better mousetrap, and the world will beat a path to your door” and in 1899 built the more familiar snap trap which received its patent in 1903. Simple and effective, Mast’s trap is the best-selling mousetrap of all time. However, inventors are still attempting to improve upon Mast’s design—the Patent Office grants about 40 patents for mousetraps a year, and it receives almost ten times as many patent requests!
The simple mousetrap is a testament to American ingenuity. Inventors and innovators have sought to deal with the mice in different ways - some traps are “beheaders,” some “imprisoners,” and some are “mashers.” No matter the design, the mousetrap has an undeniable grasp on the American imagination, with board games, gambling apparatus, and even movies being based on this pervasive mammal and the attempts to capture it.